Chen Wan’s call came the next day.
“Xixi, you met Chengzhe, right?” Chen Wan asked with a smile.
“I did.” Lin Xi sat on the edge of the bed and said softly, “Brother Chengzhe is very nice.”
“He’s a little reserved, so don’t take it personally.” Chen Wan paused before continuing, “Auntie wants to ask you for a favor. He’s alone in Guangcheng, with only two assistants by his side, and when he gets busy, he doesn’t even remember to eat. If you have time, go see him and keep him company.”
Lin Xi held her phone and lowered her head. “Okay. Send me his address, Auntie.”
The address came through. 18 Cuiping Road, east of the city. Lin Xi looked at it for several seconds before opening the map. It was close to the river, in an upscale residential complex. She had never been to a place like this before.
She changed clothes several times before finally settling on a white T-shirt and a denim skirt, with her hair tied into a low ponytail. She wore no makeup.
She looked like an ordinary student who had simply stepped out for the day, without seeming like she had made any deliberate effort. Before leaving, she took a bottle of mineral water out of her storage space, poured out half of it, replaced it with spiritual spring water, screwed the cap back on, and put it into her backpack.
The apartment building at 18 Cuiping Road was taller than she had imagined, its glass curtain walls reflecting the surface of the river. She sent Li Chengzhe a message: “Brother Chengzhe, Aunt Chen asked me to bring you something. I’m downstairs.”
He replied, “Mm. Come in.”
The security guard glanced at her and pointed toward the lobby. “Take the elevator to the top floor. The door is unlocked.”
The elevator required a keycard, but someone had already unlocked it for her. She pressed the button for the top floor. When the doors opened, the corridor was carpeted, making almost no sound beneath her footsteps. She stopped at the door and knocked.
“Come in.”
The apartment was larger than she had imagined. An entire wall consisted of floor-to-ceiling windows, through which sunlight poured inside, with boats visible on the river.
Li Chengzhe came out from inside. He was wearing a white T-shirt meant for lounging at home, and his hair was slightly more relaxed than it had been at the airport, making his whole demeanor seem much more at ease.
“Sit.” He pointed toward the sofa.
Lin Xi sat down with her backpack resting on her knees. “Auntie said you’re alone in Guangcheng and was worried that you wouldn’t eat properly.” Her voice was very soft.
He glanced at her, went into the kitchen, poured a glass of water, and placed it in front of her before returning to the single-seat sofa opposite her. “I ate,” he said.
Lin Xi picked up the glass and took a sip. It was warm. She placed the bottle of mineral water mixed with spiritual spring water on the coffee table. “I brought you a bottle of water. I don’t know if you’ll be used to it…”
He said nothing. He picked it up, unscrewed the cap, and took a sip. Lin Xi did not look directly at him, but she caught the movement from the corner of her eye, and her heart settled a little.
“Auntie said you don’t know many people in Guangcheng, so she asked me to come see you whenever I have time,” she said.
“Mm.”
“If you’re busy, you don’t have to worry about me. I’ll sit for a while and then leave.”
“I’m not busy.” He paused before adding, “There’s nothing much going on today.”
Lin Xi raised her head and glanced at him. Sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, falling across his profile. He was more relaxed than he had been at the airport, leaning back against the sofa with one leg resting over the other, his posture casual.
“Brother Chengzhe, how do you usually handle your meals?” she asked.
“My assistant brings them, or I eat at the company.”
“I can cook fairly well.” She paused before lowering her head. “If you don’t mind, I can occasionally bring you some food. It’s mainly so Auntie won’t worry.”
He looked at her. The living room was very quiet. After a short while, he said, “Sure. But you don’t need to make a special trip. Just do it when it’s convenient for you.”
Lin Xi nodded. “Okay.”
She stayed for a little while longer without lingering. Then she stood up and put her backpack on. “I’ll be going now.”
He walked her to the door. While she changed her shoes, he stood beside her without urging her.
“Be careful on the way home,” he said.
Lin Xi put on her shoes and straightened up, looking at him. “Brother Chengzhe, since you’re here alone, you can come to me if you need anything.”
“Okay.”
Li Chengzhe stood behind the door, listening as her footsteps gradually disappeared toward the elevator.
Last time, she had said, “Drink less coffee.” This time, she had said, “Auntie asked me to come.”
Every time, her reason was related to Chen Wan, yet everything she did had nothing to do with that reason.
He closed the door. The half bottle of water she had brought was still sitting on the coffee table.
He unscrewed the cap and took another sip. It had almost no taste and was no different from ordinary mineral water.
But after drinking it just now, he had felt a warmth spread through his chest. He assumed it was only his imagination.
Lin Xi stood in the corridor, staring at the closed door. Her heart was beating rapidly.
She turned and walked toward the elevator. When the elevator doors closed, she leaned against the wall. In the mirror, the girl’s face looked slightly pale, her eyes bright, her lips pressed tightly together.
He had taken the first sip. He had said, “Sure.” He had told her, “Be careful on the way home.”
It still wasn’t enough. One bottle of water was nowhere near enough.
She left the residential complex. The sunlight fell fiercely across her face, and she raised a hand to shield her eyes.
She turned into a supermarket and bought several ingredients. When she returned to the Lin residence, no one was in the kitchen.
She washed the vegetables, cut up some ribs, and simmered a pot of soup. The heat was kept low as the soup bubbled gently, its aroma slowly spreading through the kitchen.
She ladled some into a bowl and tasted it. The seasoning was just right. She poured the soup into a thermos and put it into her storage space.
She wouldn’t deliver it today. She had already used up her excuse.
She couldn’t go every day, but she couldn’t leave too much time between visits either. Before the apocalypse, she needed to make sure he drank enough spiritual spring water. He was destined to awaken a supernatural ability anyway, and the spiritual spring water would make him even stronger.
She stood in the kitchen, listening to the gentle bubbling of the soup.
The sunlight was beautiful, beautiful enough to feel like a lie.